By: Friedrich Seiltgen
Copyright © 2024
ABOUT SIG SAUER
The origins of the Sig Sauer Corporation began in 1853, when Friedrich Peyer im Hof, Heinrich Moser, and Conrad Neher founded a factory to construct wagons and railway cars in Switzerland, the Schweizerische Waggonfabrik (“Swiss Wagon Factory”). Little did they know that their company would become one of the most renowned small arms manufacturers seven years later.
As part of a challenge from Switzerland’s Defense Ministry, the trio entered a competition to develop a state-of-the-art rifle, hoping the Swiss Army would adopt it.
The men pooled their engineering talents and, along with gunsmith Jean-Louis Joseph Prélaz and army officer Edouard Burnand, created the Prelaz-Burnand rifle. The rifle was submitted to the competition in 1860, and it won! In 1864, the company was awarded the contract to produce 30,000 rifles, now known as the M1863.
The company name was changed to Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft (SIG, German for “Swiss Industrial Company”).
In 1947, the SIG P210 pistol was developed based on the design of Charles Petter’s Modèle 1935A pistol. In 1937, Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG) acquired the license for the Petter-Browning system. The patent was a refinement of the Browning Hi-Power (P35).
It was adopted by the Swiss military in 1949 as the “Pistole 49,” due to the precision manufacturing processes employed in its manufacture and its resultant accuracy and reliability. This single-action semi-automatic brought SIG much acclaim. SIG also debuted the P230 for the Swiss Police.
Since Swiss law limits Swiss companies’ ability to export firearms, Swiss companies require the use of a foreign partner. So, in the 1970s, SIG purchased both Hämmerli Target of Lenzburg, Switzerland, and J. P. Sauer and Sohn of Eckernförde, West Germany, forming SIG Sauer.
SIG then targeted the USA and its expanding firearms market. In June 1985, SIG created SIGARMS and moved into their new headquarters in Tyson’s Corner, VA, while importing the P220 and P230, then quickly expanded to another facility in Herndon, Virginia, while importing the P226 and P228. SIGARMS then moved to its present location in Exeter, New Hampshire.
In 1992, SIG began production of the P229, and in 1998, their first shotgun line was followed by the Blaser R93 rifle. SIG expanded product lines with the Sauer rifle & Hämmerli target pistols.
In October 2007, SIGARMS changed its name again to SIG Sauer.
In 2014, they opened their new corporate headquarters and production facility in Newington, New Hampshire.
Today, SIG Sauer employs over 1,200 employees, producing pistols, rifles, airguns, ammunition, optics, and suppressors.
THE CROSS TRAX
SIG took the basic features of the Cross rifle design to the next level and created the Cross Trax. In an effort to reduce weight, the Cross Trax uses a lightweight minimalist design that features a “legbone” folding stock and the pistol grip from the Rattler, a skeletonized M-LOK aluminum handguard, and a low-profile bolt knob to create the next generation of lightweight, compact hunting rifles.
THE RECEIVER & FURNITURE
The SIG Cross aluminum receiver is the basis of this rifle. Designers added the lightweight Leg Bone minimalist folding stock, SIG Rattler grip, and skeletonized 11.5-inch handguard with M-LOK slots, which features a black anodized finish.
THE BOLT & BARREL
The 3-lug bolt features a 60-degree low-profile, no-snag bolt knob and handle and 2-stage match trigger. The tapered stainless-steel barrel is 16 inches long with a 1:10-inch twist with a satin finish and is threaded 5/8 x 24.
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: Bolt-Action Rifle
Caliber: 308 Winchester
Magazine Capacity: 5 Rounds
Sights: Picatinny rail for optics
Barrel Length: 16 Inches
Overall Length: 35 Inches
Height: 7.1 Inches
Width: 2.75 Inches
Weight: 6.1 Pounds
MSRP: $1,529
URL: www.sigsauer.com
THE VERDICT
The Cross Trax is a lightweight, compact, precision hunting rifle you can stow in a backpack. Check one out at your SIG dealer today. It ships with one 5-round AICS magazine.
That’s all for now, folks! Please keep sending in your questions, tips, and article ideas. And as always – “Let’s Be Careful Out There.”
Friedrich Seiltgen is a retired Master Police Officer with 20 years of service with the Orlando Police Department. He conducts training in Lone Wolf Terrorism Counterstrategies, Firearms, and Active Shooter Response. His writing has appeared in RECOIL, Soldier of Fortune, The Counter Terrorist Magazine, Off Grid, American Thinker, Homeland Security Today, and The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International.
Contact him at [email protected].